India Can Win By An Innings vs Sri Lanka In 2nd Test. Cheteshwar Pujara Explains How
India are in a very comfortable position in the second Test against Sri Lanka. Coming into Day 3, India had already reduced Sri Lanka to two down in the first innings after putting 503 on the board
- India declared at 503 for 9 in their first innings against Sri Lanka in the second Test
- Sri Lanka were 8 for 2 at stumps, trailing India by 495 runs at the end of Day 3
- Cheteshwar Pujara said India could win by an innings if they bowl well on Day 3
India are in a very comfortable position in the second Test against Sri Lanka. Coming into Day 3, India had already reduced Sri Lanka to two down in the first innings after putting 503 on the board. In the first session on Day 3, Prasidh Krishna took India's third wicket. India need a win in this Test to climb above Bangladesh to fourth spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table. Former India player Cheteshwar Pujara says India can even win by an innings if they bowl well on Day 3. "Very much likely (innings win). I think Indian batters have put enough runs on the board. If India bowl well on Day 3, then they will win this game by an innings margin," Pujara said on Cricinfo.
"India have batted Sri Lanka out of the second Test because when you put 500 on the board, one thing is pretty sure: India are not going to lose this game, and this is more than enough to win a game."
On a rain-affected Day 2, Dhruv Jurel allayed concerns surrounding his form with a remarkably composed unbeaten 115 before the bowlers struck early blows to give India command of the second Test against Sri Lanka.
Jurel's second Test hundred powered India to a hefty 503 for 9 declared in their first innings, and Sri Lanka were reduced to 8 for 2 at stumps after pacer Prasidh Krishna and Manav Suthar gave marching orders to Lahiru Udara and Prabath Jayasuriya respectively.
Kamil Mishara was batting on five when stumps were drawn at 5:51 pm after an extended session. The hosts are trailing by 495 runs.
But the main storyline of the day was provided by Jurel, fresh from his 51 in the first innings of the opening Test last week.
If the fifty at Galle broke a barren run of eight innings, Jurel underscored his growing confidence and touch with a near-flawless knock at the SSC Ground.
India gained immensely from his innings, and the right-hander was also involved in two vital stands, a 112-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Rishabh Pant that lifted India from 307 for 6 to 419.
For the subsequent wicket, Jurel and Manav Suthar added 39 runs, helping the tourists further pull away from their opponents and close in on the 500-run mark.
However, Jurel's consistency was the key ingredient in both those partnerships. The 25-year-old's 177-ball innings was a prime example of risk-free run accumulation and situational awareness.
At the beginning of the day, Jurel gave full support to Pant, who came out to bat after the early dismissal of debutant Saransh Jain.
At that time, the focus was on Pant because he had retired hurt on 3 after copping a blow on his forearm from Lahiru Kumara on Sunday.
Jurel understood the circumstances and gave more strike to Pant, who played a typical innings of 63, full of chutzpah.
Pant fought gallantly against the Lankan pacers during his nearly two-hour stay at the crease, batting with confidence and showing little discomfort.
The eventual runs against his name might have looked good, but Pant had to dig deep to reach that mark.
Pacers Fernando and Kumara targeted his body with a barrage of bouncers, and the former even managed to hit him on the shoulder once.
However, Pant was equal to the task, either moving away from the line or nudging the ball around.
There was an explosive moment too, when the left-hander got inside the line to hook Kumara over fine leg for six.
Pant, who made 66 in the second innings at Galle, reached his fifty in 81 balls with a pulled four off off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha.
The wicketkeeper-batter celebrated the milestone with a thundering maximum off left-arm spinner Jayasuriya.
On the other hand, Jurel reached his fifty in 97 balls, pulling Jayasuriya for four.
But the contrasting partnership ended immediately upon the resumption after lunch, as Pant lofted Nuwantha straight to Udara on the edge of the circle.
It left the burden squarely on the shoulders of Jurel, a 12-Test-old batter. But he showed the know-how of a veteran batter to navigate a delicate situation for both himself and the team.
The inclusion of Sarfaraz Khan as an injury replacement for Sai Sudharsan might also have served as a reminder for Jurel to buckle down and score runs, and he aced that challenge with flying colours.
True to his strengths, Jurel stayed on the back foot, negating spinners and pacers alike, and there was hardly a moment when he looked out of place while playing a shot.
The only moment of uncertainty came when Jayasuriya appealed vociferously for an LBW decision when the batter was in the 80s, but it was promptly turned down.
The skies opened up nearly 30 minutes before the scheduled tea break, leaving Jurel stranded on 95.
After a lengthy rain break of nearly two hours, Jurel duly completed his hundred with a scampered single off Fernando, bringing it up in 171 balls.
With PTI inputs
India Cricket Team
Sri Lanka Cricket Team
Cheteshwar Pujara